Chapter 14
Everyone’s attention shot to the stage the second they heard that.
“Tobias, Dr. Bennett’s about to come out,” Russell said, sounding pumped.
Tobias kept his cool on the outside, but his eyes gave him away.
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Andrea clutched her chest. “I’m so nervous. My heart’s about to jump out. Mom, my idol is coming
out.”
Ruth squeezed Kaia’s hand, her palm slick with sweat. “Don’t get too worked up. Be on your best behavior. When she’s done talking, we’ll go meet her.”
Kaia tried to pull her hand free. “Mom, let go. I need to use the bathroom.”
“What bathroom? Dr. Bennett’s about to walk on stage. How can you think about that now?” Ruth glared at her.
“I really need to go,” Kaia insisted.
“No. You’re not going anywhere,” Ruth snapped.
A minute went by, but Dr. Bennett still didn’t show.
“What’s going on? Why isn’t she out yet?” someone asked. People started whispering.
The host was sweating bullets. He was just about to head backstage when he spotted Kaia in the audience–he asked with his eyes why she wasn’t on stage where she was supposed to be.
Kaia frowned at Ruth, who still had her hand in a death grip.
The host got it and quickly sent someone to handle it.
A moment later, an older professor walked over to Kaia. “Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, hello. I’m Stephen Weaver, a researcher from Dr. Bennett’s institute.”
Lincoln and Ruth were stunned–and flattered–that such a big deal had come over to talk to them. “Mr. Weaver, hello, Can we help you with something?”
They were excited but still thinking straight. Stephen wasn’t as famous as Dr. Bennett, but in the science world, he was no small name. It was rare for someone like him to personally approach
them.
“I came because…” Stephen’s eyes landed on Kaia.
Andrea was standing right next to her. Lincoln and Ruth assumed he was looking at Andrea and swelled with pride.
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“Are you here because of Andrea?” Ruth asked. “She’s pretty well–known at school. I didn’t think you’d heard of her.”
Lincoln was excited. “She wants to join Dr. Bennett’s institute and plans to apply for an internship. in her junior year. We’d appreciate it if you could put in a good word.”
Stephen cleared his throat politely. “Is that so? Well, she should work hard.”
While Ruth kept going on about Andrea, she completely forgot she was holding Kaia captive. Kaia took the chance to slip away and head backstage.
The host finally relaxed. “We had a small delay. Now, please welcome Dr. Bennett with a big round of applause!”
Kaia walked on stage wearing a mask and a hat.
Taking the mic, she said in a calm, low voice, “The success of this new nanomaterial wasn’t just my achievement—it was the hard work of our whole team. Please give them all a big round of applause.”
She then turned to the professors in the front row and introduced them one by one. “Professor Duncan Payne.”
The audience clapped.
“Professor William Spencer.”
The applause grew even louder.
“Professor Aiden Hawkins.”
The clapping went on.
The professors were moved to tears at being recognized by Dr. Bennett.
“Hey, Tobias, don’t you think Dr. Bennett looks kinda like your fiancée?” Russell asked, squinting,
Tobias shot him a cold look. “You’ve got quite the imagination.”
Russell chuckled awkwardly. “Just kidding. But remember when Kaia bragged at your place about Dr. Bennett announcing a partnership with Moreno Group today?”
Right then, Kaia said again, “Now, I have a very important announcement.”
The whole room leaned in, curious.
Kaia’s eyes landed on Tobias. Tobias noticed and made a questioning sound. “Hmm?”
“What is it?” Russell asked, turning to Tobias.
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“Dr. Bennett looks like she’s staring at me,” Tobias muttered.
Russell laughed. “I didn’t know you had jokes.”
Tobias frowned, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him.
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On the stage, Kaia went on, “I know many of you came here hoping to work with us on this new nanomaterial. But I’ve already chosen the company our institute will partner with.”
The crowd buzzed. “Already? Which company’s the lucky one?”
“I brought a ton of money, hoping to strike a deal and apply this new nanomaterial to our industry. Guess it’s too late now.”
“Dr. Bennett, don’t keep us hanging. Just tell us.”
“The company is Moreno Group,” Kaia said.
Her words hit like a thunderclap. Tobias’s eyes went wide. His mind spun as he remembered Kaia bragging before.
“Holy crap! Did I hear that right? I… I…” Russell stammered, too stunned to finish. “Tobias, maybe Kaia’s not as simple as she looks.”
This couldn’t just be a fluke. One coincidence was possible. But two? No way.
First, Kaia said the press conference would be on the 28th–and it was. Then she said the institute would work with the Moreno Group–and now it happened.
If Russell could figure it out, Tobias sure wouldn’t be dumb enough to think it was all luck.
Once the speeches wrapped up, the press conference ended without a hitch.
Tobias noticed everyone in the Bennett family was still seated–except Kaia,
His eyes narrowed. After a few seconds of hesitation, he suddenly stood and headed for the stage.
As soon as Kaia stepped down the stage, a wall of people closed in around her. Security tried to keep order, but the crowd kept shoving to get closer.
“Stop pushing! We need more security here to protect Dr. Bennett!” one organizer yelled.
“Dr. Bennett, what will you be researching next?” a reporter shouted.
“Dr. Bennett! Our station wants an exclusive interview–just a few minutes!” another called.
“I’m from the Adkins family in Morganburg. I’d like to invite you to dinner,” a man said.
The pushing got worse. Everything was spiraling out of control. “Let me through! I want her
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autograph!”
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Even though Kaia knew how to fight, this wasn’t the time or place to use it.
Then, it happened–a camera smacked into her hat, knocking it off. Her hair tumbled down, and with it, her mask slipped away.
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